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. 2014 Mar 1;1(1):45-54.
doi: 10.1007/s40473-013-0005-7.

Neuroimaging in Alcohol and Drug Dependence

Mark J Niciu  1 , Graeme F Mason  2
Affiliations

Neuroimaging in Alcohol and Drug Dependence

Mark J Niciu et al. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. .

Abstract

Neuroimaging, including PET, MRI, and MRS, is a powerful approach to the study of brain function. This article reviews neuroimaging findings related to alcohol and other drugs of abuse that have been published since 2011. Uses of neuroimaging are to characterize patients to determine who will fare better in treatment and to investigate the reasons underlying the effect on outcomes. Neuroimaging is also used to characterize the acute and chronic effects of substances on the brain and how those effects are related to dependence, relapse, and other drug effects. The data can be used to provide encouraging information for patients, as several studies have shown that long-term abstinence is associated with at least partial normalization of neurological abnormalities.

Keywords: Alcoholism; Brain; Cocaine; Ethanol; Heroin; MRI; MRS; Marijuana; Metabolism; Methamphetamine; Opioids; PET; Psychostimulants.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Mark Niciu has no conflicts.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Heart rate (beats per minute) during an intravenous infusion of sodium acetate in a 42-year-old alcohol-dependent Caucasian male. Compared to the start of the protocol, the heart rate dropped and remained consistent during the infusion, returning to its pre-infusion level after the infusion ended
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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